Valéry Gergiev's cycle of the Brahms
symphonies for the Edinburgh International Festival has started at the Usher Hall., writes Juliet Williams. This opening performance included the first symphonies of both composers and Szymanowski's Violin Concerto, with
popular Scottish soloist Nicola Beneditti. Ms Benedetti, who has the honour of
performing at this year's Last Night of
the Proms, gave an electrifying performance which was in turn both muscular and
tender. Her playing was perhaps the highlight of the evening.
This is an important cycle for
two reasons. Firstly, the imaginative and adventurous pairing with a cycle of
the major works of Szymanowski is part of a programme to reassess the
importance of Szymanowski as the
pre-eminent twentieth century Polish composer prior to the Second World War. It
rightly features his virtuostic writing for piano, as well as the lush and
exotic Third Symphony, subtitled, 'Song of the Night'. Together with the violin
concerto performed last night, these give the listener a representative sample
of the different periods of Szymanowski's varied and evolving output. iPad
users can avail themselves of a new app giving information, excerpts and scores
at www.karolszymanowski.pl.
August's events here in Edinburgh
at the International Festival include a
strand looking at links and influences between Scotland and Poland, and
these concerts are one of a series of events sponsored by the Adam Mickiewicz
Institute, whose objective is to promote Polish culture internationally; later
in the month, the Cleveland Orchestra's visit will feature Lutoslawski's
orchestral works.
Secondly, the Brahms symphonies
is one of the major orchestral cycles for a conductor, and it is interesting that Gergiev is pairing it with Szymanowski. Brahms was often conscious in his writing that he followed
in the footsteps of giants, but here it is the conductor who is in that
position. In particular with the LSO, the footprints are those of Haitink,
whose recording of Brahms with the LSO remains one of the pre-eminent ones.
Gergiev is known for his excellence in the Russian repertoire and has scored
well in new works such as the premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina's St John
Passion, but the challenge here is how he will approach a different repertoire
and sound world, firmly at the heart of the Germanic classical and romantic
tradition.
Last night suggested a promising
start in this task, but the relatively introductory nature of the works
programmed last night mean that the quality of his cycle can only be fully
assessed as it unfolds. The one-movement violin concerto, composed just after Szymanowski's Third Symphony, was the only
fully mature work on the programme. This composer's First Symphony is in fact
an incomplete fragment, disowned by the composer after only one performance and
only revived posthumously. The two movements, both allegri although with
differing rubrics, are important mainly in laying the basis of Szymanowksi's
later development.
Brahms' First (published)
Symphony, the C Minor of 1876, is a more substantial affair. Although conceived
when Brahms was a young man, this symphony had a long gestation of over two
decades, so the composer had more time to mature and distil his ideas. Brahms
had much to overcome and develop, in particular the challenge of how, and
perhaps even if, the post-Beethoven symphony should look and sound, as well as
to integrate and respond to the influence of his early mentor Schumann, who had
perhaps given an only-partial answer to the post-Beethoven symphonic challenge.
He is still more finding his own voice than in his subsequent symphonies but
very characteristic elements are well demonstrated in the enjoyable second
movement. There was perhaps a rather brisk 'andante', almost impatient, but a
very pleasing lyrical tone. Gergiev looked relaxed and brought apparently effortless precision; calm control
but not rigidity, perhaps reflecting the balance of emotion and precision found
in Brahms' works.
The cycle continues in Edinburgh
on a daily basis, tonight opening with the Tragic Overture and then continuing
with the second symphonies respectively of each composer. The highlight is set
to be on Saturday, when Brahms' delightful Third Symphony is paired the the
sensual 'Song of the Night'. Come back here for updates as the cycle
progresses.
This major cycle will be repeated
in the 2012-13 London season, opening over the weekend of 22-23 September, when
there is also between the first two performances, on Sunday 23rd
September, a Discovery
Day devoted to Szymanowski at the Barbican Centre:. There is also European
touring, further details on the orchestra's own
website.
Gergiev has an energetic
schedule, this cycle closes on Sunday and he then appears again on Tuesday to
conduct Prokofiev's Cinderella, but this time at the Proms. As a former
opera conductor who excels in Russian repertoire, this has him on home ground
and promises well. Nicola Benedetti will play Bruch's first Violin Concerto at
the Last
Night of the Proms, her third appearance at this year's BBC Proms.
There's lots on Szymanowski on this site, especially his Symphony no 3. Use the search labels or search box.
No comments:
Post a Comment